BioMax, the biofuels arm of the Victor Smorgon Group, says its biodiesel product is attracting strong interest from mining companies looking to meet their environmental commitments and secure future fuel needs.
Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel manufactured to Australian diesel standards from domestic, renewable resources and can be mixed with petroleum diesel in varying proportions to produce environmentally-friendly biodiesel blends.
BioMax’s biodiesel is produced at its purpose-built facility in Victoria from animal fats, canola oil and used cooking oil and meets all Australian Biodiesel and Petroleum Diesel Standards.
The Victor Smorgon Group’s managing director Peter Edwards said biodiesel was being substituted for diesel in some mine site vehicles and other diesel-fuelled equipment.
“Biodiesel functions in the engine much the same way as petroleum diesel maintaining vehicle performance, payload capacity and distance range,” he said.
The company said mining companies were increasingly called upon to account for their environmental footprint and management of resources.
Depending on the type of biodiesel blend used, a switch to biodiesel could save a company between 15 and 75% of CO2 fuel based emissions on their sustainability report, according to BioMax.
“The environmental benefits of biodiesel are not limited to greenhouse gas emissions. Biodiesel usage means a reduction of other emissions such as particular matter, carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide, all air pollutants under the Clean Air Act,” Edwards said.
Mining companies have the choice of different biodiesel blends.
Generally, customers are using BioMax B20 Biodiesel and BioMax B100 Biodiesel, but any blend is possible, according to BioMax.
BioMax B20 Biodiesel is a blend of 20% diesel and conventional sulphur diesel and meets both the Australian Diesel Fuel Standards and the Australian Biodiesel Fuel Standards.
BioMax B100 Biodiesel is said to be the only fuel to be classified non-toxic and meets the Australian Biodiesel Fuel Standards.
BioMax biodiesel
www.biomaxfuels.com.au